Aquascaping Styles

A comprehensive guide for aquascaping

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Japanese Iwagumi→

japanese iwagumi style

Nature Style→

nature style example

Natural Biotope→

biotope style example

Dutch Style→

dutch style
Japanese Iwagumi

Iwagumi style came about from the Japan art of stone appreciation. The community applies the term to rock only aquascapes, usually in an open field concept with carpeting plants, where the main focus is to show off and draw attention to the magnificent beauty of the rock work. It might seem simple but it takes skill to achieve the balance necessary for aesthetic rock arrangements. Having fewer elements also means that flaws stand out a lot more.

Dimensions of the tank have to be long, optimally have the length at least twice as long as the height, this enhances the viewing perspective for Iwagumi style scapes.

I would recommend 12 gallon or 20 gallon long tanks. Hardscape and substrate should fill 50% of the front viewing space, any less would make the tank look empty.
Lighting requirement would not be much of a problem as light reaches bottom of the tank easily with short tanks. LED spot lights would look amazing with the Iwagumi style as it can cast a shimmer effect from the water ripples which adds movement to the scape.
Carpeting plants are key to the scape, this could be achieved by these examples.

- Dwarf hair grass (Eleocharis acicularis)
- Lilaeopsis brasiliensis
- Micranthemum monte carlo
- HC (Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba')

Last updated 1 day(s) ago

Dimensions of the tank have to be long, optimally have the length at least twice as long as the height, this enhances the viewing perspective for Iwagumi style scapes.
I would recommend 12 gallon or 20 gallon long tanks. Hardscape and substrate should fill 50% of the front viewing space, any less would make the tank look empty.
Lighting requirement would not be much of a problem as light reaches bottom of the tank easily with short tanks. LED spot lights would look amazing with the Iwagumi style as it can cast a shimmer effect from the water ripples which adds movement to the scape.
Carpeting plants are key to the scape, this could be achieved by these examples.

- Dwarf hair grass (Eleocharis acicularis)
- Lilaeopsis brasiliensis
- Micranthemum monte carlo
- HC (Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba')
Dimensions of the tank have to be long, optimally have the length at least twice as long as the height, this enhances the viewing perspective for Iwagumi style scapes.
I would recommend 12 gallon or 20 gallon long tanks. Hardscape and substrate should fill 50% of the front viewing space, any less would make the tank look empty.
Lighting requirement would not be much of a problem as light reaches bottom of the tank easily with short tanks. LED spot lights would look amazing with the Iwagumi style as it can cast a shimmer effect from the water ripples which adds movement to the scape.
Carpeting plants are key to the scape, this could be achieved by these examples.

- Dwarf hair grass (Eleocharis acicularis)
- Lilaeopsis brasiliensis
- Micranthemum monte carlo
- HC (Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba')
Nature Style

Nature style is great for beginners starting their first planted aquarium. ​Nature style scapes utilize natural stones, rocks and wood to provide a sense of flow and direction to the overall composition. Rhizome plants and moss type plants are used on hardscape while carpeting plants are grown on the foreground. Choosing a mix of lower maintenance plants means that aquascapes like these may look complex, but are actually quite easy to maintain.

Your tank has to match the size of your hardscape. Your hardscpae will mainly consist of drift wood. If you could only get your hands on small pieces of wood, you would best pair it with a small tank too. Nature scapes are forgiving enough to pair with most tank sizes.

Do take note that you could expect your hardscape to cost just as much or more than your tank itself. This cost would balloon exponentially with tank size.
Having a very strong light is not necessary with nature style as the plants kept in it is more often than not easy low light plants like crypts, anubias and mosses. T5 or normal aquatic LEDs are good enough. remember that lower light levels equate to less algae issues and slower growth rates mean less trimming.
Plants like Anubias, Java Fern, Java Moss, Christmas Moss, Marimo Moss balls, Crypts and Dwarf Sag are easy, available and the most popular plants in the aquarium hobby.

Last updated 1 day(s) ago

Your tank has to match the size of your hardscape. Your hardscpae will mainly consist of drift wood. If you could only get your hands on small pieces of wood, you would best pair it with a small tank too. Nature scapes are forgiving enough to pair with most tank sizes.

Do take note that you could expect your hardscape to cost just as much or more than your tank itself. This cost would balloon exponentially with tank size.
Having a very strong light is not necessary with nature style as the plants kept in it is more often than not easy low light plants like crypts, anubias and mosses. T5 or normal aquatic LEDs are good enough. remember that lower light levels equate to less algae issues and slower growth rates mean less trimming.
Plants like Anubias, Java Fern, Java Moss, Christmas Moss, Marimo Moss balls, Crypts and Dwarf Sag are easy, available and the most popular plants in the aquarium hobby.
Your tank has to match the size of your hardscape. Your hardscpae will mainly consist of drift wood. If you could only get your hands on small pieces of wood, you would best pair it with a small tank too. Nature scapes are forgiving enough to pair with most tank sizes.

Do take note that you could expect your hardscape to cost just as much or more than your tank itself. This cost would balloon exponentially with tank size.
Having a very strong light is not necessary with nature style as the plants kept in it is more often than not easy low light plants like crypts, anubias and mosses. T5 or normal aquatic LEDs are good enough. remember that lower light levels equate to less algae issues and slower growth rates mean less trimming.
Plants like Anubias, Java Fern, Java Moss, Christmas Moss, Marimo Moss balls, Crypts and Dwarf Sag are easy, available and the most popular plants in the aquarium hobby.
Natural Biotope

Biotope setups attempt to recreate the natural aquatic environment accurate to a certain geographical area. Some will go as far as to collect local rocks and plant species from the specific region. This is one of the most naturalistic ways to present fish. Often the tanks also make use of leaf litter & driftwood branches to mimic natural leaf fall in rivers & lakes.

Depending on the fishes you intend to keep, your tank dimensions will be affected. If u wish to keep medium to small fishes, a shallower tank will benefit you well becasue it is easier to light and good for gaseous exchange.
Light fixtures that are programmable with dawn/dusk settings and dimmer functions is useful to stimulate natural fish behaviour.
There will be no plants involved in biotope style.

Last updated 1 day(s) ago

Depending on the fishes you intend to keep, your tank dimensions will be affected. If u wish to keep medium to small fishes, a shallower tank will benefit you well becasue it is easier to light and good for gaseous exchange.
Light fixtures that are programmable with dawn/dusk settings and dimmer functions is useful to stimulate natural fish behaviour.
There will be no plants involved in biotope style.
Depending on the fishes you intend to keep, your tank dimensions will be affected. If u wish to keep medium to small fishes, a shallower tank will benefit you well becasue it is easier to light and good for gaseous exchange.
Light fixtures that are programmable with dawn/dusk settings and dimmer functions is useful to stimulate natural fish behaviour.
There will be no plants involved in biotope style.
Dutch Style

Dutch style aquascapes are focused on showing off the beauty of aquatic plants by playing on the contrast in texture, shapes and colours of different aquatic plants. Little or no hard scape (rocks/wood) is used. There should be a good variation of height in the tank as a whole. Terracing arrangement of plants in “streets” that taper towards the rear help to put emphasis on the perspective of depth. Red plants with distinctive leaves are often used as focal points and for contrast. There should be little/no glass visible (except for front viewing pane).

tall tanks are perfect for dutch styles as this would allow to show the full height of the plants and adds buffer before needing to prune. However tall tanks need very strong lighting to reach the bottom of the tank and also makes maintenance of plants difficult as it is too deep to reach. The ideal depth is between 45 - 60cm.
Lights required would be the standard T5 tubes or
high power LEDs with Red,Blue are beneficial to
show off the full colors of the tank. Avoid full
white bulbs, they do not have the optimal performance.
At the bottom of the tank, there should be at least 60
PAR for optimal coloration.
Dutch style scapes use large variety of plants with
unique shapes, texture, colour to maximise contrast.

Last updated 1 day(s) ago

tall tanks are perfect for dutch styles as this would allow to show the full height of the plants and adds buffer before needing to prune. However tall tanks need very strong lighting to reach the bottom of the tank and also makes maintenance of plants difficult as it is too deep to reach. The ideal depth is between 45 - 60cm.
Lights required would be the standard T5 tubes or
high power LEDs with Red,Blue are beneficial to
show off the full colors of the tank. Avoid full
white bulbs, they do not have the optimal performance.
At the bottom of the tank, there should be at least 60
PAR for optimal coloration.
Dutch style scapes use large variety of plants with
unique shapes, texture, colour to maximise contrast.
tall tanks are perfect for dutch styles as this would allow to show the full height of the plants and adds buffer before needing to prune. However tall tanks need very strong lighting to reach the bottom of the tank and also makes maintenance of plants difficult as it is too deep to reach. The ideal depth is between 45 - 60cm.
Lights required would be the standard T5 tubes or
high power LEDs with Red,Blue are beneficial to
show off the full colors of the tank. Avoid full
white bulbs, they do not have the optimal performance.
At the bottom of the tank, there should be at least 60
PAR for optimal coloration.
Dutch style scapes use large variety of plants with
unique shapes, texture, colour to maximise contrast.